Page 104 of Moon Tamed

“And a zealous love of bunnies.”

“It’s true. Dad will take good care of our bunnies, but I may be overwhelmed with sadness after a few days without them.”

Marko sighed. “We’ll kidnap the bunnies if we need to.”

“We’ll probably survive.”

“Probably,” I muttered.

TWENTY-FIVE

There is nothing embarrassing about having a good partner.

The leader of Legacy prowled around me with a neutral expression, making disapproving noises. Calden bristled, and I wondered at the game the two men played. Legacy’s leader, Kirkland Marchandle, maintained a reputation of being strict with sufficient compassion for most to tolerate him. His drive for new knowledge made him the ideal leader for a faction dedicated to learning and progress.

He toed many lines on our world, where those who breached certain knowledge barriers were shipped off to new planets to pursue a future filled with technology and advancement.

“Mr. Marchandle,” I greeted. I kept a firm grip on the bag I’d claimed as mine, which held both my tiger and wolf plushies along with my favorite of the new outfits Calden had selected for me. “If you have a problem with Mr. Stephans, please restrain yourself until I am back in the office. I’d rather you not get bitten after you annoy me so much I sprout fur and go on a rampage.”

Legacy’s leader straightened, and then he snickered. His entire atmosphere lightened, and he held his hand out to Calden. “You picked a feisty one, boy. Your father is going to stress himself sick wondering if your woman got tired of your shit and dealt with you.”

Calden grinned back at the older man and shook with him. “Coraline is learning to be assertive. She took to it right away, although there were a few days where she was stunned by her changed circumstances. Once she identified what her job entailed, she took to it without issue.”

“Having seen her work in my faction, I have no doubt in her abilities. I was, admittedly, surprised he took a new executive secretary.”

“Because of my mother.”

“You would be correct.”

“Coraline doesn’t have the faulty gene,” Calden stated.

“Well, that’s obvious, seeing as you’re following her around like some heartsick puppy hoping for attention. Having three married sons, I have learned to recognize the look.” Legacy’s leader snickered. “And unlike my three married sons, you are not at all embarrassed, are you?”

“Why would I be embarrassed? There is nothing embarrassing about having a good partner.”

“You know that, I know that, but if you could teach my sons there’s nothing wrong with having a softer side, I would appreciate it.”

“Dad,” all three of the man’s sons complained.

“Daaaaaad,” their father replied, doing a rather good impression of a whining child. “Thank you for bringing Calden and Coraline over. If you’re hungry, go tell your mother you love her and hope she takes pity on you. Calden, consider the library yours to browse at your leisure. Coraline, if you don’t mind coming with me, I’d like to discuss the election with you.”

“Just so there are no misunderstandings, I’m a neutral party in terms of this report, but if you have any dirt on Calden’s father with the appropriate supporting evidence, I’ll listen.”

“It’s nothing like that, so don’t worry about having your loyalties tested,” he promised. “Calden, I’ll bring her to the library when we’re done having our talk. I set up the guest suite for you, assuming you’d be sharing.”

“We’re sharing,” I confirmed, and I smirked in Calden’s general direction.

The wolf raised a brow at me. “What are you doing?”

“Situating things precisely to my liking.”

I loved the sound of his laughter. “Okay, Coraline. If you get edgy, just tell Kirkland. He’ll bring you over. It’s not his first rodeo with people about to shift, so he can handle it if you get a bit snarly with him.”

“It’s easier than having a teenaged son, so don’t worry about it, Coraline.”

All three of the man’s sons pouted and went off, likely in search of their mother for a dose of parental sympathy or dinner.

I would have been off for a dose of both in their shoes. Calden went with them, leaving me alone with Legacy’s leader.

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